How many authors' names can you include in a reference entry before using an ellipsis?

How many authors' names can you include in a reference entry before using an ellipsis?

• A. Five. After the fifth author, use an ellipsis followed by the last author's name.
• B. Seven. For more than seven authors, use an ellipsis after the seventh and include the last author's name.
• C. Twenty. List up to 20 authors without an ellipsis.
• D. Never omit an author's name with an ellipsis in the reference list.

Answer: (C)

In APA style, when citing a source with multiple authors, you can include up to 20 authors' names in the reference entry. If a work has 21 or more authors, you list the first 19 authors, followed by an ellipsis, and then the last author's name. This approach ensures that the reference list remains concise while still providing enough information about significant contributors to the work. The choice stating that you can list up to 20 authors is accurate and adheres to the guidelines set forth in the APA Publication Manual, making it the correct answer. This provision allows for proper recognition of a significant number of contributors without becoming unwieldy, which is critical in academic writing where citations lend credibility and authenticity to the work.

In APA style, when citing a source with multiple authors, you can include up to 20 authors' names in the reference entry. If a work has 21 or more authors, you list the first 19 authors, followed by an ellipsis, and then the last author's name. This approach ensures that the reference list remains concise while still providing enough information about significant contributors to the work.

The choice stating that you can list up to 20 authors is accurate and adheres to the guidelines set forth in the APA Publication Manual, making it the correct answer. This provision allows for proper recognition of a significant number of contributors without becoming unwieldy, which is critical in academic writing where citations lend credibility and authenticity to the work.